University of North Carolina Athletics
No. 16 Tar Heels Continue Tough Week at No. 2 Miami
May 13, 2004 | Baseball
May 13, 2004
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - No. 16 North Carolina (34-14, 13-8 ACC) brings just its second three-game losing streak of the season into this weekend's three-game set at No. 2 Miami (36-9). Games are slated for 8 p.m. Friday, 7 p.m. Saturday and Noon Sunday at Mark Light Field in Coral Gables, Fla. Friday's game will be televised by College Sports Television (DirecTV Channel 610) with Mike Crispino (play-by-play) and Kevin Stocker (color) calling the action. Jones Angell of the Tar Heel Sports Network will broadcast all three games on AM-1360 WCHL and TarHeelBlue.com.
SERIES HISTORY
Miami and Carolina have met 22 times since 1976 with the Hurricanes holding a 14-8 advantage in the all-time series, but the Tar Heels have won four of the last six meetings dating back to 1998. The teams last met in Chapel Hill in 2002 with the Tar Heels taking two of three from the defending national champions. In its last trip to Coral Gables, Carolina split two games with Miami in the 1998 NCAA Atlantic I Regional. The Canes also swept a three-game set at home with the Tar Heels in March of that year. Tar Heel head coach Mike Fox is 3-1 against the Hurricanes.
SCOUTING THE HURRICANES
Miami enters the weekend with a record of 36-9 and a national ranking as high as No. 2. UM has won six in a row with weekend sweeps of Coastal Carolina and Jacksonville. As a team, the Hurricanes are batting .331, and five regulars are batting at least .323. Brian Barton leads the way with a .378 mark, while Jim Burt is batting .370 with team highs of 10 homers and 55 runs batted in. J.D. Cockroft (6-3, 2.79) is scheduled to start Friday, with Cesar Carrillo (8-0, 2.67) and Brandon Camardese (5-1, 4.03) slated for Saturday and Sunday, respectively. George Huguet leads the Hurricane bullpen with a 0.39 ERA and eight saves.
A LOOK AT THE TAR HEEL STARTERS
Friday: Daniel Bard (Fr., RHP): Coming off his shortest start of the year against Maryland, Bard looks to rebound Friday against Miami. Last week against the Terps, Bard gave up season highs of 10 hits and eight runs over 3.2 innings. On the year, he leads the team with a 7-2 mark and ranks second among starters with a 3.19 ERA. Bard has 55 strikeouts on the year against just 19 walks.
Saturday: Garry Bakker (Jr., RHP): After struggling with his consistency for much of the season, Bakker has been brilliant in his last three starts and sports a 0.92 ERA over this stretch. He has allowed just two earned runs over his last 19.2 innings. On the year, he is 4-4 with a 3.76 ERA. Last time out, he gave up just one run on seven hits in 6.1 innings against Maryland.
Sunday: Andrew Miller (Fr., LHP): Just like Bakker, Miller owns a 0.92 ERA over his last three starts and lowered his season mark to 2.77, which ranked fourth in the ACC through games of May 9. He also ranked 10th in strikeouts per nine innings (8.46) and third in opponent batting average (.210). With two scoreless innings Wednesday, Miller lowered his team-best ERA to 2.69. In his last start, Miller worked 6.1 innings and allowed just one earned run on five hits. He tossed seven shutout innings at Duke on April 25.
TOUGH WEEK FOR TAR HEELS
With losses to No. 7 South Carolina and VCU this week, Carolina brings its first three-game losing streak since late February into this weekend's series with No. 2 Miami. On Tuesday, the Gamecocks downed the Tar Heels, 9-4, while VCU scored an 8-6 come-back win Wednesday in 10 innings. UNC also suffered a 10-inning loss to Maryland (3-1) last Sunday to start the skid. As a team, the Tar Heels are batting just .211 (23-for-109) and have scored just 10 runs over these three games.
FRESHMEN STARTERS PACE PITCHING STAFF
The combination of rookie starters and a veteran bullpen has been a success for the Tar Heels, as 16 of Carolina's 34 wins have come from freshmen. Daniel Bard leads the way with seven victories, while Robert Woodard has five and Andrew Miller has four. Bard and Miller have been outstanding all season and they are the only two freshmen to rank among the Atlantic Coast Conference's top 10 in earned run average. Through games of May 9, Miller ranks fourth at 2.77, while Bard stands seventh at 3.19. With two scoreless innings of relief Wednesday, Miller lowered his team-best mark to 2.69.
TAR HEELS RANK AS TOP SLUGGING TEAM IN ACC
Only 11 players in the ACC have reached double-digits in home runs this season, and three of them wear Carolina blue. With Marshall Hubbard (14 homers), Sammy Hewitt (11) and Chris Iannetta (10), the Tar Heels are the only league school to have three players with 10 or more round-trippers. Through games of May 9, the Tar Heels led the ACC with a .455 team slugging percentage.
HUBBARD, IANNETTA PROVIDE LEAGUE'S TOP ONE-TWO RBI PUNCH
Despite struggling over the last three games, junior right fielder Marshall Hubbard and junior catcher Chris Iannetta have carried the Tar Heel offense for much of the season. The pair has the numbers to show for it, as Hubbard and Iannetta ranked first and second, respectively, in the Atlantic Coast Conference in runs batted in per game through May 9. Hubbard has driven in 64 runs, and Iannetta has tallied 57 RBI. Hubbard, who is batting .348 with 14 home runs, also leads the league in doubles per game, total bases per game and slugging percentage. Iannetta, who checks in at .361 with 10 home runs, is in the ACC's top 10 in nine offensive categories.
MIAMI PREPS FOR MOVE TO ACC
Set to make the jump to the Atlantic Coast Conference next season, Miami has already played three conference opponents before facing the Tar Heels this weekend. The Canes own an 8-4 combined record after playing weekend series with Georgia Tech and Virginia and playing in-state rival Florida State for six games on back-to-back weekends.
FRESHMEN FLORIDIANS
Two of Carolina's highly-regarded freshmen, Andrew Miller and Craig Corrado, are Sunshine State natives and will be playing their first collegiate games in their home state this weekend. Miller attended Buccholz High School in Gainesville, while Corrado went to Tampa Catholic. Miller is 4-2 on the year and leads the Tar Heel starters with a 2.69 ERA. He will start Sunday's game. Corrado has started 22 games at second base and shortstop and has driven in eight runs. Miller and Corrado also saw their first action against Florida State this season in the Tar Heels' series victory in Chapel Hill.
GEHRIG, RIPKEN ... IANNETTA?
Carolina has its own iron man in junior catcher Chris Iannetta. The Johnny Bench Award nominee has been a constant behind the plate for the Tar Heels this season catching 393 of 436 innings played or 90.1 percent of all action. In Atlantic Coast Conference play, Iannetta has caught 186 of 189 innings or 98.4 pecent. Despite playing the most demanding position on the field, Iannetta leads the Tar Heels with a .361 batting average and owns a .986 fielding percentage.
BAKKER BACK TO FORM
Junior Garry Bakker has had an up-and-down season but he appears to be putting it all together heading into the stretch run. Over his last three starts, he sports a 0.92 ERA and has allowed just two earned runs in his last 19.2 innings. After throwing seven shutout innings against Clemson on April 17, he followed that up by allowing just one earned run in 6.1 innings in a loss at Duke on April 24. Bakker also gave up just one run on seven hits in a win over Maryland last Saturday. On the year, Bakker is 4-4 with a 3.76 ERA. He sports a 3.03 ERA over his last five starts.
SCORING EQUALS SUCCESS FOR TAR HEELS
With strong pitching numbers throughout the season, Carolina's fortunes have mainly fallen on its performance at the plate. During the last three games, all losses, the Tar Heels have scored just 11 runs on 23 hits. During the previous four games, UNC scored 42 runs and had 58 hits. On the year, the Tar Heels have only lost three times when scoring at least five runs.
BENSON, BROWER AMONG ACC'S ALL-TIME LEADERS IN APPEARANCES
With two hitless innings against VCU Wednesday, senior Whitley Benson has made 24 appearances this season and now has 109 to move into a tie with Chris Chavez of Florida State for 10th all-time in Atlantic Coast Conference history. Benson is also third in the Carolina record book. On the year, he is 4-0 with one save and a 1.37 ERA. He has made two starts this season and has pitched in a variety of roles out of the bullpen. Classmate Kevin Brower has appeared in 21 games this season and 102 for his career. He now stands fourth on the Tar Heels' career list and 11th in ACC history. Brower is 1-1 with one save and a 3.86 ERA this season. Additionally, fellow senior relievers Michael Gross and Scott Senatore also have 24 appearances this season. All four rank among the ACC's top 10 in appearances.
ERRORS PROVE COSTLY FOR CAROLINA
Four Tar Heel errors led to five unearned runs in Carolina's 9-4 loss to South Carolina Tuesday in the first annual Battle of the Border. Defense has been a problem for the Tar Heels at times this season, as UNC has committed at least three errors in five of its 13 losses this year. All four games in which Carolina has committed at least four errors have been losses. On the year, UNC has made 79 miscues.
WEBB WORKING HIS WAY BACK
Junior utility man Justin Webb, the Tar Heels' most versatile player, played an inning at third base against South Carolina Tuesday for his first action in over a month. He also played two innings in the field Wednesday but has not yet stepped to the plate. After being suffering a fractured left arm after being hit by a pitch at Wake Forest April 4, Webb missed Carolina's next 17 games. Over this stretch, the Tar Heels went 11-6 overall and 6-6 in the ACC. With Webb in the lineup, Carolina is 23-8 overall and 7-2 in league play. He is batting .309 on the year with two homers and 16 RBI.
HEELS KNOW HITTING STREAKS
Junior right fielder Marshall Hubbard hit safely in 18 straight games until going hitless against No. 7 South Carolina Tuesday, but the Tar Heels are no strangers to long hitting streaks this season. Carolina batters have combined for four hitting streaks of at least 10 games and 11 different Tar Heels have had hitting streaks of at least five games. Hubbard had streaks of 18 and 12 games, junior catcher Chris Iannetta had a 23-game hitting streak from March 9 to April 14 and Justin Webb had a 10-game streak from March 13-26.
CAROLINA ENJOYS ROAD SUCCESS IN THE ACC
With two wins at Duke in its last ACC series, the Tar Heels posted an 8-4 record in conference play on the road. The eight victories ties for the most in program history since the league went to its current three-game series format in 1990. The Tar Heels also won eight conference road contests in 1990 and '96. This year's team wrapped up league play with an 8-4 mark after winning series at Virginia, Wake Forest and Duke. Overall, Carolina stands 10-5 on the road this year.
HUBBARD HOMER WATCH
With 14 home runs through the first 48 games of the season, junior Marshall Hubbard has a shot to become just the sixth Tar Heel to hit 20 home runs in a season. Devy Bell holds the school record with 24 in 1986, and Chris Maples hit 23 in 2002. Since homering in his first game as a Tar Heel, the William & Mary transfer has been a constant in the middle of the Tar Heel batting order. On the year, he is batting .348 with the 14 homers and an ACC-best 64 RBI.
BARD CLOSING IN ON ROOKIE RECORD
With just one more win, Daniel Bard will tie the Carolina school record for victories by a freshman. Carter Harrell (2002), Paul Shuey (1990) and Michael Hoog (1987) share the current mark of eight wins. Bard is 7-2 this season with a 3.19 earned run average. He was named the top freshman pitcher in the country at the midseason point by Baseball America. Freshmen have accounted for 16 of Carolina's 34 victories this season, as Robert Woodard has five wins and Andrew Miller has four. Bard did not figure in the decision in his start against Maryland on May 7.
BARD PICKED FOR USA BASEBALL NATIONAL TEAM TRIALS
Freshman right-hander Daniel Bard was among 19 collegiate players that have been invited to participate in the 2004 USA Baseball National Team Trials, the organization announced April 29. The trials are scheduled for June 20-26 in Durham. The USA Baseball National Team will be selected from a pool of 36 players, of which an additional 17 have yet to be determined. The official 20-man team roster will be announced June 27. Bard spent last summer with the USA Junior National Team.
IANNETTA AMONG NATION'S BEST CATCHERS
Junior catcher Chris Iannetta was named to the official watch list for the 2004 Johnny Bench Award, presented annually to the nation's top collegiate catcher by the Greater Wichita Area Sports Commission. The 45-member watch list was released March 11 and can be updated to include other candidates until May 3. Iannetta is having an outstanding season at the plate, batting .361 with 10 home runs and 57 RBI. Behind the plate, he has picked off nine runners and has thrown out 17-of-37 would-be base stealers. Iannetta owns a .986 fielding percentage in a team-best 436 chances.
HUBBARD NAMED TO GOLDEN SPIKES WATCH LIST
Junior right fielder Marshall Hubbard was one of 30 players named to the first Golden Spikes Award Watch List, announced by USA Baseball in association with the Major League Baseball Players Association. The award is regarded as amateur baseball's most prestigous honor. USA Baseball will announce the five finalists for the award in June. The top 30 players on the watch list are subject to change based on weekly performance.
YOUNTS IS HEATING UP
Junior outfielder Chase Younts has been on a tear of late and is becoming tougher and tougher for head coach Mike Fox to keep out of the everyday lineup. In fact, Younts has started the eight games for the Tar Heels after starting just nine games the rest of the season. Since driving in a career-best four runs at Charlotte on April 14, Younts has recorded five multi-hit games, his first of the season. Over this stretch, he is batting .364 (16-for-44) with nine runs scored and 12 RBI. He has also hit just hit just the second, third and fourth home runs of his career over this stretch. Younts put the Tar Heels ahead 4-0 in Wednesday's loss to VCU with a two-run double. On the year, he is batting .300 with three homers and 14 RBI this season.
TAR HEELS BIG ON BIG INNINGS
With an eighth-run fifth in last Wednesday's win at UNC Greensboro, Carolina has now scored at least five runs in an inning 15 times this season. The Tar Heels have also scored at least eight runs in an inning on four occasions, with two coming against the Spartans. The season-high for runs in a single inning is 11 against St. Francis on March 5.
TAR HEELS SCORE LARGEST COMEBACK WIN AT UNCG
Down 5-0 after four innings, things looked bleak for the Tar Heels at UNC Greensboro on last Wednesday. But Carolina battled back with eight runs in the fifth to take an 8-5 lead an went on to defeat the Spartans, 10-5. In all, the Tar Heels sent 13 men to the plate that inning and tallied eight hits, which tied a single-inning season-best. The five-run deficit was the largest overcome by the Tar Heels this season. The previous best was a three-run rally that lifted UNC to a 4-3 win over Seton Hall on opening day (February 20).
HEELS HOT AT HOME
With a series win over Maryland last weekend, the Tar Heels have won five of their six three-game series at home this season. The only series loss at The Bosh for Carolina came to Clemson (April 16-18). With a loss to VCU Wednesday, the Tar Heels are now 24-6 at home this season. Before a 12-4 loss to Cal on March 14, Carolina opened the season 12-0 at Boshamer Stadium. The 12-game win streak at home was the longest since the 2002 squad won 15 straight at home from March 13-April 10, and the 12 consectutive home wins to open a season were the most since the 2000 team, which opened 21-0, won its first 15 games at Boshamer Stadium.
